Resident Not Treated with Dignity and Respect
Summary
The facility failed to treat a resident with respect and dignity in a manner that promotes quality of life. During an initial tour, a surveyor overheard a male voice speaking in a loud, firm tone to the resident, asking, “Are we on the same page? Do you understand what I’m saying?” The resident replied, “Yes, I understand, I’m not stupid,” and the male voice responded, “Well, some people would disagree with that.” When the surveyor approached the room, the man left and was wearing a sweatshirt with the facility’s name on it. The resident was sitting up in bed, tearful, and identified the man as a PT, then repeated the conversation the surveyor had overheard. The resident stated being upset about not being physically able to go home on pass and said the PT was always mean to him/her. The resident’s record showed diagnoses including muscle weakness and difficulty walking. The quarterly MDS indicated a BIMS score of 13 out of 15, showing intact cognition. The comprehensive care plan addressed the resident’s potential to be verbally aggressive related to emotional feelings and included interventions to assess understanding, allow time to express feelings, and, when agitated, intervene before escalation, guide away from the source of distress, engage calmly, and walk away and reapproach later if needed. Facility staff interviewed by the surveyor stated the resident could be verbally aggressive at times, but also emphasized the importance of making the resident feel safe and speaking respectfully. The PT later entered the room and apologized, stating he should not have spoken that way. When interviewed, the PT acknowledged the resident said he did not say nice things and admitted that his tone was talking down to the resident and was not appropriate. The DOR, DON, and LNHA each confirmed that the interaction was not professional or respectful and stated staff should respond respectfully, step away if needed, and reapproach later rather than fight back with the resident. The PT job description required professional relationships and communication in a professional manner, and the facility’s Resident Rights policy stated residents, visitors, and staff will be treated with dignity and respect and that residents have the right to be treated with courtesy, consideration, and respect.
Penalty
Resources
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